Services at St Mary’s Church
Monday:
Mass 8:30 - 11 AM
Tuesday
Liturgy 5:30 – 7 AM
The Way Orthodox Fellowship in English for adults - All ages 7:30 PM
Wednesday:
Mass 8:30 – 11 AM
Hymns class for adults 7 – 8:30 PM
English Bible Study 7:30 PM
Thursday
Mass 8:30 - 11 AM
English Midnight Praises 7:30 PM
Friday:
Mass 8:30 – 11 AM
Youth meeting 25 and above 7-9 PM
Discipleship Class 7-8:30 PM
Saturday:
Mass: 8:30 – 11 AM
Scouts 1:30 – 3 PM
Choirs and Theatre 2 – 4 PM
Vespers Praises 2:45 – 4 PM
Sunday School for grades 7-10 4 – 6:30 PM
Sunday School for primary 4:30 – 6 PM
Vespers & youth meeting 7-8:30pm English
Vespers &Bible Study Arabic 6-7:30 PM
Midnight Praises 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Sunday:
1st Mass 6:30 - 8:30 Arabic & English
2nd Mass.8:30 - 10:30 English - St Mary’s
Church
3rd Mass 8:30 - 10:30 Arabic - St John’s Chrysostom
Psalmist School of Hymnology 11:15 AM –12:15 PM
Church Priests:
Fr Tadros Sharobeam 0414251251
Email: frtadros@me.com
Fr Habib Girgis Younan: 0401238177 – 94498871
Email: habibgirgisyounan@hotmail.com
Fr Michael Salib: 0422431821
Email: frmichael@sac.edu.au
Fr Kyrillos Tawadros 0411 518 399
Fr John Makary 0433 445 636
Church Address: 5 Epsom Rd., Kensington Vic
3031 Tel: 93766651
The Turning Over of the Relics of the Great St. Mark the Apostle by the hand of Pope Paul the Sixth, Pope of Rome.
22nd June - 15th Baouna
On this day, of the year 1684 A.M., that coincided with Saturday the 22nd of June, 1968 A.D., and in the tenth year of the papacy of Pope Kyrillos the sixth, 116th Pope of Alexandria, the official delegation of the Pope of Alexandria received the relics of the great St. Mark the Apostle, the evangelist of the Egyptian land and the first Patriarch of the See of St. Mark from the hand of Pope Paul the Sixth, Pope of Rome, in the Papal palace, Vatican City. May the blessings of St. Mark be with us all. Amen. The Departure of St. Abba Nofer the Anchorite.
23rd June - 16th Baouna
On this day, the ascetic father, Abba Nofer the Anchorite, departed at a good old age, and of a glorious memory, in the desert of Upper Egypt. The grace of God had moved St. Paphnoute (Paphnutius), and he longed to see the servants of God, the Anchorites. He saw many of them, among them St. Abba Nofer, and wrote their biographies. He said that once he went into the desert and found a well of water and a palm tree. Then he saw the saint coming to him, naked, and the hair of his head and beard covered his body. When St. Paphnutius saw him, he was afraid and thought that he was a spirit. Saint Abba Nofer encouraged him, made the sign of the cross, and prayed the Lord’s prayer, then said to him, “Welcome O Paphnoute.” When he called him by his name, St. Paphnutius calmed down. They prayed together, then sat, and talked about the greatness and goodness of God.
St. Paphnutius asked Abba Nofer to tell him about his life and how he came to that place. Abba Nofer replied, “I was in a monastery wherein lived holy and righteous monks. I heard them talking about the greatness of those anchorites who dwelled in the desert and their good virtues. I said to them, ‘Are there any who are better than you?’ They said to me, ‘Yes, those anchorites who dwell in the wilderness. We live near the world, if we are sorrowful or sad, we find someone to console us; if we are sick, we find someone to visit and treat us; if we are naked, we find someone to clothe us. Those who live in the wilderness lack all these things.’ When I heard that from them, my heart became anxious.
“When the night came, I took a little bread and I went out from the monastery. Then I prayed to the Lord Christ and asked Him to guide me to the place where I was to live. The Lord facilitated my way and I found a holy and righteous man. I dwelt with him, and he taught me all about the life and the ways of the hermits and the anchorites. After I came to this place, I found a palm tree, and a well. The tree bore twelve clusters of dates each year. One cluster of dates is
enough food for me for a month, and I drink water from this well. I have lived here for sixty years during which I have never seen the face of a man except yours.”
While they were talking together the angel of the Lord came down, and told St. Abba Nofer that his departure was near. Straightway, his color changed and became like fire, then he bowed his knees and worshipped God. After he embraced St. Paphnutius, he delivered up his pure soul. St. Paphnutius wrapped him, and buried him in his cave. St. Paphnutius wished to live in the place of Abba Nofer. But after he had buried him, the palm tree dried and fell down and the water of the well dried up. That happened by the Will of God, so St. Paphnoute would return to the world and tell us about the holy hermits that he had seen. May their prayers be with us and Glory be to god forever. Amen.
The Return of the Relics of the Great St. Mark to the New St. Mark Cathedral.
24th June - 17th Baouna
On this day, of the year 1684 A.M., that coincided with Monday the 24th of June, 1968 A.D., and in the tenth year of the papacy of Pope Kyrillos the Sixth, 116th Pope of Alexandria, the relics of the great saint, the beholder of God, St. Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of the Egyptian land and the first Patriarch of Alexandria, were returned to Egypt. Pope Kyrillos had delegated an official delegation to travel to Rome to receive the relics of St. Mark the Apostle from Pope Paul VI. The papal delegation consisted of ten metropolitans and bishops, seven of them were Coptic and three Ethiopians, and three of the prominent Coptic lay leaders.
May the blessings of St. Mark be with us all. Amen. The Martyrdom of St. George (Girgis) known as ElMezahem.
26th June - 19 Baouna
This day also, in the year 675 A.M. (June, 959 A.D.), marks the martyrdom of St. George, the new martyr, known as El-Mezahem. His father was a Moslem bedouin. He married a Christian woman from the city of Demerah El-kibliah. He had from her three sons, one of them was this Saint, and they called him ElMezahem.
He used to go with his mother to the church at a young age. He also used to see the children of the Christians dress in white on the days that they partook of the Holy Mysteries. He longed that his mother would dress him like them, and allow him to eat from whatever they ate at the altar. His mother told him that could not be,
unless he was baptized. She gave him a portion of the blessed Eulogia bread, that they distributed to the people, and it tasted in his mouth like that of honey. He meditated in his heart and said, «If the taste of this bread that was not consecrated by prayers tastes like this, what will be the taste of the Offering?« His longing for the faith in Christ increased from that time.
When he grew up, he married a Christian woman, and he told her that he wished to become a Christian. She told him that he had to be baptized. He went to Birma, was baptized there and was called George (Girgis). When this matter became known, he went to Domiat. The Moslems there recognized him, seized him and tortured him. Then he escaped and fled to the city of Saft Abu-Trab, where he stayed for three years. When his matter became known again he went to the city of Katurah, and remained there serving the church of St. George, then went back to Demerah. When the Moslems of the city of Demerah knew his history, they seized him, and delivered him to the governor who put him in prison. The Moslems assembled and broke the door of the prison. They beat the Saint severely, split open his head, and left him between life and death. When some of the believers came on the morrow to bury him, for they thought that he was dead, they found him alive. The Moslems convened a council, and threatened him, but he did not change his conviction. They hung him up on the mast of a ship, but the governor ordered that he be taken down and cast him up in prison. His wife strengthened him, and comforted him. She taught him to believe that the punishment which had come upon him was because of his sins; lest Satan lead him astray and he might boast that he became like the martyrs. The angel of the Lord appeared to him, comforted him, strengthened him, and informed him that he would receive the crown of martyrdom on the next day. On the next morning, the Moslems gathered with the governor and demanded from him that the head of El-Mozahem be cut off. He handed him over to them. They took him, and cut off his head near the church of the angel Michael in the city of Demerah. They cast his body in hot fire for a day and a night. But his body did not burn, so they put him in a barrel and threw him into the river. By the Will of God the barrel landed on the shore of an island, which was inhabited by a believing woman. She took his body, shrouded him, hid him in her house until they built a church for him, in which they laid his body.
May his intercession be with us. Amen. The Departure of Elisha, the Prophet.
27th June - 20th Baouna
On this day, of the year 3195 of the world, the holy prophet Elisha, departed. This prophet was born in one of the villages of Israel called Alamut. His father›s name was Shaphat. Elisha was a servant to the holy prophet Elijah. When the Lord would take up Elijah the prophet into heaven, he went with him to the river Jordan. Elijah said to Elisha, «Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you.« Elisha asked, «I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me,« and it was as he asked. (2 Kings 2:1-18) Elisha divided the river and passed through it. Then he went to Jericho and went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, «Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!« So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. (2 Kings 2:23-24)
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, «Your servant my husband is dead, and the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.« So Elisha said to her, «What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?« And she said, «Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.« Then he said, «Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors; empty vessels; do not gather just a few.« With his prayers the Lord blessed the oil and all the vessels became full. The woman sold the oil and paid off her debt. (2 Kings 4:1-7) He also raised the son of the Shunammite woman from the dead. When Naaman the Syrian came to him, he healed him from his leprosy. Naaman offered him much money and costly clothes, but he refused them. Nevertheless, when his servant Gehazi took them for himself, the prophet knew that by the spirit. Elisha became angry and told him, «Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.« Elisha had performed many signs and miracles. He prophesied for about fifty years. When Elisha died, they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, a plundering band was seen, and they cast the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, stood on his feet, and went back to his people. (2 Kings 13:20-21)
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever.
3rd Sunday of the blessed Month of Baouna Matthew (12: 22-37).
“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” Matthew (12:30).
How dangerous is divisions and divisive thoughts and actions which leads to a divided house! Division is the way to destruction; perhaps Satan cannot spoil the love between the brethren except with division. How easy it is for division to occur; even between the brethren themselves, as a matter of fact it starts with a different point of view or opinions, but if this simple difference I opinions which can happen every day, is interwound with stubbornness and pride, soon will become a huge fire from a little spark to consume the whole household. Many simple domestic arguments between husbands and wives, which can occur in any household, with stubbornness and pride lead to division and separation and maybe courts of law and many problems. Between friends who have a strong tie of love between them a difference of opinion will be used by the devil to turn a differing view to a problem which is hard to resolve and maybe resulting is division and hostility which can last for months and years!
Many are the reasons which can lead to division and one of these reasons is the desire for prominence which is a type of haughtiness and insistence of personal pride and also it is the spirit of covertness, stubbornness and taking sides, and more it is selfishness and self-love coupled with spiritual dryness as a result of concentrating more on worldly matters than spiritual life.
+ Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation
One of the toughest things which lead to division is the want of prominence and the positions of personal glory and honour and seeking positions of highness; this is the reason king Herod went after Baby Jesus and it even made him (Herod) issue orders to kill every child in Bethlehem because he wanted no other king other than himself; it is the same argument which the high priests and the pharisees used to arose the Roman Ruler against the Lord Jesus Christ, saying that he declared Himself king and we have no other king but Cesar. It is the same complaint of the high priests and the elders of the Jewish people when they witnessed the triumphant reception by the people of the Lord Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday saying “you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19) and the Holy Bible tells us “they had handed Him over because of envy” (Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10).
Thus, the love of fame and the fear of losing it by man to the extent of being blind to trample on all because the self and achieving one’s goals. We find king Saul because of his fear for his position (kingship) and his envy of David, he plots to kill him (David) and when Jonathan, Saul’s son, cooperated with David, Saul became
angry and almost killed him, for his love of positions and haughtiness blinded him to even the closest people to him.
Church history tells us of a monk named Peter (Betros) during the reign of Pope Mina the forty seventh (47th) Patriarch of the Coptic Church in 8th century A.D, who desired the position of a bishop but Anba Mina would not ordain him because he is not deserving of this position, Peter the monk became angry and started to promulgate lies and false stories about the Patriarch and he went to Asia Minor with forged letters in the name of the Pope seeking donations for the church in Alexandria for relief of all the problems the church is enduring, till he reached Damascus, then he starting spreading rumors that the Patriarch of Alexandria has many treasures of Gold and has a knowledge of a chemical which turns metals to gold. This rumors reached the khalifate, who in turn called Peterto establish the facts from him, and it just happened that the Khalif had a son who just perished and looked very much like this Peter, the Khalif and his wife liked Peter and promised ti give him what he wants, so Peter asked to be appointed Patriarch (of the see of St Mark) in place of Anba Mina and the Khalif agreed and send him to the ruler of Egypt with orders for the same and he dressed him in a lavish clothing and a big turban which had the inscriptions Peter Patriarch of Egypt and Peter because of his ignorance added the words “servant of the king”. In Egypt, the ruler sent and asked for patriarch and asked him to fulfil the orders of the Khalif and to abdicate his seat for Peter. Peter even dared to entre the church wearing this turban and all the bishops and priests stopped him in his way to the church, so the ruler put the Patriarch and the bishops and priest in prison with hard labour of painting ships with tar and this went on for a whole year, but God with His mercy intervened and a schism occurred between the ruler and Peter which made the ruler put Peter in prison and release the Patriarch and all the bishops and priests, then after 3 years the ruler died and Peter was released. Peter left the prison and went to the Khalif to take revenge of the Patriarch but as soon as he arrived in Damascus, the Khalif died and Peter returned to Egypt lowly and defeated and despised by all till his death which was unpleasant too. Again, a famous story from the church history of Anba Mikhael the first, the fifty sixth Patriarch who went to town called Sakha to consecrate a new church built in the name of Mar Balthoumis the martyr on the request of the people, however when the Patriarch arrived at the church on the morning of the consecration, and entered to start the prayers but the bishop of the city was extremely late, so the Patriarch and accompanying bishops started the prayers for the for the offertory without the town bishop. After the raising of the offertory, the bishop arrived and
became very angry that the Patriarch started the service without him present and considered this to be an insult and the Patrarch exceeded his authority for raising an offertory in his bishopric without his consent, thus he proceeded to the altar and took the host (korbana) and throw it on Ground as it was not consecrated yet and left in a rage. The Patriarch very calmly selected another host and continued with the service of the Holy Liturgy. The following day, all the bishops and the Patriarch held a local council and decided to de-frock the evil bishop (for his action) and appointing another in his place. The Patriarch faced many problems because of this de-frocked bishop, as he went to the Khalif of the time BenToloun and told lies about the Pope, which made the Khalif imprison the Patriarch and impose a large fine on him which caused the Pope many problems, but God again relieved the church from the fines when the Khalif Ben-Toloun died.
Many are the troubles which occur because of love of prominence and the first seat (in gathering) and on this St John says; “Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church” (3 John 9:10).
Dear beloved, have you learned to take the back seat in favour others? Have you learned to put others in honour ahead of yourself? Are you a washer of others feet’s? It is love which bonds together all the diverged.
+
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad
For man to separate himself from God with his stubbornness and insistence and in this man is working against God Himself, instead gathering for Him he is scattering and sometime one appear to be stubborn for a principal which seem to be correct on the outside but in reality, it hides a haughty person with pride. One, might insist on his opinion with the desire to correct a specific wrong or to prove a principal, but with this stubbornness, one might trample upon other principals which might be more important than his or her principal which they defending. Maybe they will cause a sin to others on the way and cause the destruction of those or at least destroying many principals and ideals which should not touched. Maybe it is better to offer advice with love and without insisting and stubbornness. Many advices is offered in the shape of an advice and in fact it is an order which must be obeyed or many problems will occur if not followed!
Ahithophel used offer his advice to David, then
to Absalom but he always expected his advice to be followed and in the only time his advice was not followed, he could not take it and hung himself (to death). Poor is the man who cannot accept no success not even once, despite it is not a failure in reality. This was the same with method which promulgated heresies and heretical doctrines in the church. Stubbornness and insisting on one’s own opinion, not listening to others advice is a common thread to all heretics. Arius the heretic, insisted on his view at the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea claiming that his view is the correct one, against the whole church which cause many problems till today, in particular he has given rise to Jehovah’s witness heretical ideas after it was entombed 1500 years later since Arius’s death! Also, so was Nestorius, Eutyches and Macedonius Mani and many others of heretics. Similarly, still in modern time there are heretics like the Mormons and Jehovah’s witness and many others of strange views and heresies, one of the greatest examples is the protestant church and the schism it caused, even the name in it self indicate how they started (by protesting), for they are part of the gathered who were unhappy with the traditional church and the traditions and rituals of the church. Under the banner of correction, which is a great and beautiful banner, they emerged to demolishing all things, the church sacraments, ritual worship and even tradition itself, even some dare to alter some of the books of the Holy Bible as suits them and the end result is a schism in the church dividing the whole world and caused many of (wars) and shedding of blood. Look what have they achieved today, they have divided and split to become tens and even hundreds of dominations split against one another instead of gathering together and correction; all became split and divided. + but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men
As result of stubbornness and insistence on one’s opinion, one’s heart become insensitive and shut to continue in one’s stubbornness refusing all attempts to correct (the problem) and gradually one would lose his spiritual vigour and the importance of his salvation and the salvation of others, then one would reach the most dangerous stage a human can reach, that is to refuse repentance absolutely. In this one has reached to refuse the help of the Holy Spirit in his life and this is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to lose hope in repentance and acceptance of salvation and this there is no forgiveness for this person. Dear beloved, leave the limited circle of stubbornness and haughtiness and entre the endless horizon of God’s Love which is limitless. God’s Love and Peace exceeds all we can think and gives us hope, peace and true grace.
Holy Apostles Fasting
Monday 9th June the Holy Apostles Fasting starts directly after we celebrate the Holy Feast of Pentecost. The Fasting is continuing until 12th July which is the Feast of Martyrdom of St Peter and Paul- the feast of the Holy Apostles. This fasting has been ordered by the Lord Himself when He was asked by the Pharisees why His disciples do not fast as St John’s disciples. The Lord told them that when the Bridegroom is taken from them they will fast. This was pointing to the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord. The Lord also ordered His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they are filled with the Holy Spirit. So, the day of Pentecost is truly the day of a start for the new church. The Birthday of the church of New Testament. That is why the church who feels as stranger in this world is carrying the Cross following the Lord. Fasting is also a sign of carrying the Cross in rejection to the world pleasures. We have also witnessed His Resurrection and Ascension and looking forward for His Second Coming. Let us follow the steps of our Lord declaring and witnessing for His Salvation on the Cross on the way to get united with her Bridegroom.
Fr John Macari 0433 445 636
Mrs Mariana Boulos 0437 944 690
